Title: ELCA Council Sees World Hunger Milestone, Seeks $25 Million in Annual Gifts ELCA NEWS SERVICE
May 1, 2007
ELCA Council Sees World Hunger Milestone, Seeks $25 Million in Annual Gifts 07-076-JB
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) noted that contributions to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal in 2006 surpassed more than $20 million. It recommended a resolution to the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly that the church celebrate the milestone, and it invited "renewed efforts" by members and congregations to reach a $25 million goal established in 1999.
The council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church between churchwide assemblies. It met here April 14-16. Assemblies are held every other year; the next is here Aug. 6-11.
Christina Jackson-Skelton, ELCA treasurer, reported to the council the total funds given to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal in 2006. Total contributions reached $20.1 million, of which a record $19.1 million was for the general World Hunger Appeal, and most of the remaining funds were designated for the Stand With Africa campaign, she said. In 2005 $17 million was given to the general hunger appeal. The increase in giving in 2006 was the largest single-year increase in hunger appeal funds since 1999, Jackson-Skelton said.
In its recommendation to the assembly, the council asked the assembly "to give thanks to God for the generosity of members in reaching for the first time" a new level in annual giving to the hunger appeal; to remember the vision and commitment of ELCA predecessor church bodies in establishing the World Hunger Appeal in 1974; and to rejoice in the "fruitful efforts of churches" as well as governmental and non-governmental agencies in the battle against hunger.
The resolution also expressed "abiding appreciation" to the 1999 ELCA Churchwide Assembly for establishing the annual goal of $25 million and to a variety of Lutheran agencies and institutions that have used "wisely and effectively" the appeal's funds in the past 33 years.
---
Information about the ELCA World Hunger Appeal is at http://www.ELCA.org/hunger/ on the ELCA Web site.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog